RAEDC Names Michael P. Nicholas as New President The Rockford Area Economic Development named Michael P. Nicholas of Crystal Lake, Illinois as the new president of the regional organization charged with helping employers retain and create quality jobs. He will begin at the RAEDC on April 7. Most recently Nicholas was the president and chief executive officer of Continental Datalabel in Elgin. The announcement was made on March 18 at a news conference held at EIGERlab by Joel Sjostrom, RAEDCs chairman of the board, chair of the search committee and president/CEO of Sjostrom & Sons. It was attended by nearly 50 RAEDC investors and partners. Sjostrom said that Mike Nicholas, 66, was the unanimous choice of the RAEDC search committee and the executive committee. Mikes diverse experience will be an exceptional foundation for our work at the RAEDC. He has run companies with international operations, and he has served as an elected official, said Sjostrom. Mike also has a track record as a change agent and outstanding team builder, added Sjostrom. Sagar Patel, RAEDCs vice chair/treasurer and president of Woodward Aircraft Turbine Systems, said, Mike Nicholas stood out as the best candidate. He has a superb combination of experiences required for this position -- business acumen, community service, leadership skills and interpersonal skills. Hes led businesses in both manufacturing and service industries, start up and mature. He has also served on the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation, Lakewood Village board and other public institutions. He has a very positive outlook for the Rockford area, based on a realistic assessment of our regions strengths and weaknesses. He brings excellent marketing skills, which is a key for retaining and attracting businesses and talent. I am excited with our selection of Mike and confident that his leadership will make a positive difference for the economic prosperity of our region. Patel will be the new RAEDC chairman of the board at the annual meeting in November. Mike Nicholas and his wife Bonnie will move to the Rockford area. We are very excited about this opportunity. A lot of very good work has been done by the RAEDC and its partners, and I am confident that the organization and the region will continue to build on that. Im very impressed with the RAEDCs search committee and its high quality of leadership. Our work will be challenging, yet very rewarding, said Nicholas. Mike Nicholas Background - Private Industry Experience: * President/CEO of Continental Datalabel, Elgin, IL, 2011 to present * President/CEO/Director of Fiberesin Industries, Oconomowoc, WI, 2008-2011 * President/Owner of Lakewood Holdings, Crystal Lake, IL 2000-2008 * Partner, Pride Communications (AM/FM stations), Crystal Lake, 2000 to 2010 * President/Owner, Suntronic Technology Group, Crystal Lake, IL 1990-2000 * Vice President, Manufacturing for Sun Electric, Crystal Lake, IL, 1987- 1990 * Senior management positions with Mark Controls, Skokie, IL, 1983-1987 Background - Public Service: * McHenry County Economic Development Corporation, former board member. * McHenry County YMCA, former board member * Lakewood, Illinois (in McHenry County), former board of trustee for two terms * Chamber of Commerce, Crystal Lake Background - Education: * Bachelor of Science, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology * Master of Science, Industrial & Systems Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology * Master of Business Administration, Marketing & Finance, University of Chicago Background - Personal: * Grew up in Chicago * Father was a Teamster and union officer * Wife, Bonnie, is a volunteer for food pantries and people with disabilities * Daughter lives in Winnebago and teaches in Byron; has three children * Son lives in Dallas and works for IBM The Search Process: In 2013 Janyce Fadden resigned as RAEDC president after eight years with the organization and in May moved to Alabama to be with her family. Later that month Don Thayer, a Rockford executive, was named RAEDC president while the RAEDC search committee completed its work. After a ten-month search that drew nearly 800 applicants, the committee unanimously selected Mike Nicholas. Thayer will serve as president until April 7. Sjostrom noted, The RAEDC worked with a recruiting firm that has a successful track record of attracting great talent to similar communities. The process was intensive. We attracted many talented candidates and we selected from the best. RAEDC Search Committee: In addition to Joel Sjostrom; Bill Roop, immediate past RAEDC chairman of the board and president of Alpine Bank; and Sagar Patel, the other members of the RAEDC executive committee who form the seven-member search committee are Linda Gerber, Rock River Valley Blood Center CEO and RAEDC business and community relations solutions team chair; Dr. Bill Gorski, SwedishAmerican Health System President/CEO and RAEDC director-at-large; John Chadwick, WREX general manager and former RAEDC board chair and Jeff Kaney, Kaney Group CEO and RAEDCs Rockford Area Aerospace Network chair. Don Thayer Thanked: RAEDC Chairman of the Board Joel Sjostrom thanked Don Thayer for his ten-month leadership as RAEDC interim president.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 17:11:03 +0000
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